Methods of transporting long pipes, methods and transport for transporting pipes of different sizes

Industrial and civil construction, laying various pipelines, drilling wells require a huge amount of pipes of various diameters made from different materials. Therefore, transporting pipes is an important and substantial part of cargo logistics.

Features of pipes as objects of transportation

The main features of pipes as cargo are their great length, often extending beyond the rear of the transporting vehicle's cargo platform, and their round cross-section, which creates the possibility of rolling the pipe in the transporting vehicle. When shifting pipes, the vehicle may tip over.

Industry manufactures pipes of different diameters, and there are clear rules regarding the number of pipes that can be transported by a vehicle. For pipes with a diameter of 325 to 1220 mm, the number of allowed pipes is indicated in pieces, while for pipes with a smaller diameter, it is indicated in tons. The use of cones that prevent pipes from rolling increases the number of pipes that can be transported. To prevent rolling, small diameter pipes are bundled together, and small pipes are coiled into rolls.

When transporting and performing loading and unloading operations, special attention should be paid to maintaining the cylindrical shape of the pipes. For this, supports are placed on the cones in the vehicle, and loading and unloading operations are carried out in accordance with established rules.

Rules for transporting pipes

Pipes are transported according to the following rules:

• The shipper is obliged to provide the entire package of necessary documents for transportation.
• Unless otherwise specified in the transportation contract, the responsibility for loading the pipes onto the vehicle lies with the shipper, while unloading is the responsibility of the consignee.
• If the pipes are longer than the vehicle transporting them and extend beyond the rear edge of the body, the end of the pipes must be marked in a conspicuous manner. In practice, during the day, something red in the form of material is tied to the end of the pipe, and at night, a red light is installed.
• Pipes made of aluminum, steel, and insulated pipes may only be transported using packing supports or cones.
• If pipes are loaded and unloaded using a lift, a spreader bar must be used.
• If pipes are rolled, this can only be done on beams.
• Dragging pipes is prohibited.
• Transportation must not exert loads on the pipe's frame.
• The transported pipes must be securely fixed in the cargo compartment.

Transporting pipes by different types of transport

Road, rail, water, air, all types of modern cargo transport can transport pipes.

When transporting pipes up to 4 meters long by road, regular trucks are used, while flatbed or curtainsider trucks are used for transporting long pipes, specifically designed for transporting long cylindrical items: timber, pipes, etc. Such vehicles are built on the basis of tractors, taking into account the main application area; if the log truck will mainly operate off-road, it needs increased cross-country capability. The cabin is protected by a steel grid up to the height of the cones. Pipes on the log truck are secured with a rope that needs to be periodically tightened during transit. Log trucks can be assembled on the tractor itself or use semi-trailers and trailers. If the pipes are very long, a dolly can be used—a special transport trailer connected to the tractor by a sliding or folding metal pipe through which brake hoses and electrical wires pass for the dolly. This pipe serves as both the frame and the drawbar of the trailer. Cones are also installed on the dolly, and the rear part of the pipes is laid on it.

Rail transport is the primary method for transporting pipes over long distances. For this, open-top cars or rail platforms designed for logs with large cones are used.

Pipes are transported by water or sea on bulk carriers or in containers on container ships. ISO containers can be transported by all types of transport and are used in multimodal transport.

Aviation rarely transports pipes, but the technical capabilities for this exist, and such transport is possible.

To find a pipe carrier and learn about transportation costs, you can submit a request in the “Add Cargo” section.